Record card controlled printing mechanism



March 15, 1960 D. J. ASH ET AL 2,928,339

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1955 3 Sheet-Sheet 1 F/GJ. s2

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AT TOENEY March 15, 1960 I D. J. ASH ETAL' 2,923,339

' RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a A a o a e g v on 0 so so 15o 2.10 240 270 szso" 36 zone; TlMlNG SHAFT.\.

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W E. Hwy- ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 D. .1. ASH ETA], 2,928,339

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Dew/s Jon/v 194w ROGER Her-Hon Dav a A'rroRNEY v United States Patent RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Denis John Ash, Stotfold, and Roger Arthur Davis, Letchworth, England, assignors to International Computers and Tabulators Limited, London, England Application December 20, 1955, Serial No. 554,324

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 12, 1955 15 Claims. (Cl. 101-93) This invention relates to record card controlled printing mechanisms.

A printing mechanism for printing alphabetic and numeric characters, under the control of data sensed from a record card,-is described in United States Patent No. 2,679,797. A print wheel is positioned to print a selected character by means of a single clutch which is engaged under control of both .digit and zone punchings in a card. A clutch plate, which determines the positions at which the clutch may be engaged and disengaged, has a number of teeth which is proportional to the number of characters which may be selected. This may involve a comparatively large number of teeth, which requires that the clutch lever must be very accurately timed to ensure that the correct movement of the clutch is obtained, and that the clutch plate must be accurately made.

The object of the invention is to improve the character selection mechanism for a type wheel, by providing separate devices for digit selection and zone selection, the two devices being controlled by a single operating member.

According to the invention apparatus for setting a type Wheel to a character position, under control of timed digit and zone impulses, has a gear, means for rotating the gear in one direction during digit time and in the other direction during zone time, a single operating member which is effective to prevent further movement of the gear in said one and said other direction when a digit impulse and a zone impulse respectively are received, and means for rotating a type wheel under control of the gear. In one form, the gear is coupled to a shaft for movement in said one direction and to a zoning member for movement in said other direction, the shaft rotating during digit time and the zoning member moving during zone time, and the operating member operates a digit selection member and a zoning selection member to decouple the gear from the shaft and the zoning member respectively.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional side view of the character selecting mechanism for a print wheel;

Figure 1A is a view showing the print wheel and the drive from the selecting mechanism; a

Figure 1B is an enlarged view of the print wheel and shows the arrangement of the characters on the type teeth;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional plan showing the relation of certain parts of the clutch;

Figure 3 shows part of the gear train for intermittently rotating the driving shaft;

Figure 4 is a diagram showing part of the circuit for electrical zero control;

Figure 5 is a schematic timing diagram.

The printing mechanism is intended for cperation under control of data sensed from record cards. The cards p 2,928,339 Patented Mar. 15, 1960 are sensed in known manner to produce timed impulses in accordance with punchings in digit positions 9" to 1, and in zone positions 0, X and Y. The coding of punched holes used to represent the desired characters is set out in the table below:

For example, the digit 7 is represented by a punching at the "7" position of a card column, but holes punched at the 7 and X" positions of a column represent the character T.

The cycle of the printing mechanism may be regarded as being divided into twenty-four equal intervals (Figure 5).' During the first nine of these intervals, the digit impulses 9 to 1 may be received, so that 0 to 135 of the cycle will be referred to as the digit time. Similarly, the zone impulses may occur in the zone time, between 135" and 180 of the cycle.

A shaft 71 (Figure 3) is driven by a motor (not shown) which also drives a card feeding mechanism for handling the cards under control of which data is to be printed. The shaft 71 makes one revolution for each cycle. An interrupted gear 51, which is secured to the shaft 71, meshes with a gear 50. The gears 50 and 51 have the same number of teeth, and at approximately 0 of the cycle, a tooth 53 of the gear 50 is in mesh with a space 52 of the gear 51. As the gear 51 rotates clockwise, it will drive the gear50 through half a revolution, leave it at rest .for a portion of the cycle, and then drive it through the other half revolution.

drives a gear 48, having half the number of teeth of the gear 49. The gear 48 is secured to a shaft 1. Hence the shaft 1 makes one revolution between 0 and 145 and a second revolution between 205 and 360 of the cycle (Figure 5). The direction of rotation of the shaft 71 is such that the shaft 1 is driven in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1.

A gear 3 is secured to a bushing 2 (Figures 1 and 2), which is mounted for free rotation on the shaft 1. The bushing 2 also carries a cam plate 4 which has ten high points on the periphery. The gear 3 drives through gears 70, (Figure 1A) a type wheel 96 as described in United States Patent 2,679,797 to which reference should be made for a more detailed description. For the present purpose it is sufiicient to explain that the type wheel 96 is mounted on a plate 97 which is pivoted on a shaft 98 and which is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 99. At a prescribed time in the printing cycle a projection 100cm the plate 97 enters a slot 101 in cam 102 with the result that the print wheel 97 is swung towards the platen 103 to effect printing on the paper 104.

The gear 3 is driven by the shaft 1 and is disengaged therefrom on the receipt of a digit pulse in a manner similar to that described in the above mentioned patent; the following is a full description of the mechanism for performing these functions, but reference may be made to the patent for a fuller disclosure.

Reverting to Figures 1 and 2, a latch plate 5 is freely mounted on the bushing 2. The latch plate has ten of pins 1 and l'l'are fixed in two spokes of the gear 3. Springs 8 and 9 jointhe corresponding pins of the two pairs together, and tend to turn the plate clockwise with respect to the gear 3. This relative movement is limited by astud 12 which is mounted on the plate 5 and projects intothe space-between two spokes of the gear 3. V AIstnd I4 on. the gear 3 acts asla' pivot fora' pawl 13, which is on the outer face of thegear. A spring'15 .urges' a nose 16 ofthe pawl into a slot 17 in the shaft 1. An extension 18 of the pawl lies adjacent to the stud 12. Thus the gear 3 is normally coupled to the shaft 1 by the pawl 13 The gear 3 may'bedec'oupled from the'shaft'l' by'a' digit' selection pawl 24: The pawl 24 is mounted on a zoning' sector 19 by a stud 23; The pawl is normally engaged by an operating latch30- The-latch 30 is carriedby apin 31 which passes through a combed section of a cross '1' he magnet 73.is energised by timedimpulsesr'esulting from the sensing of a record card. If a 7 punching is sensed, for examplethe magnetwill receive an impulse at 30 ofthe cycle (Figure 5). At this time, one ofthe high points on the cam plate 4 will be engaging the nose 28 of the pawl, so reducing the load on the latch' 30. With the latch inthe anticlockwise position, the pawl zoning bail moves anti-clockwise, the sector 19 is also I beginning of=the cycle.

4 is allowed a limited movement relative to the sector. 'The sector 19 has three triangular notches 38 in the periphery andthe plate 37 has corresponding notches 39. The plate 37 also has a notch corresponding to the notch 41, but facing in the opposite direction. 7 v A zone selecting pawl 45 is pivotally mounted on a rod 46 which is supported in the cross b'ar32; In the normal position of the' zoning sector, the zone selecting pawl 45 is held against the periphery. of the sector 19, and of the plate 37, by a spring 56.

It has been assumed that the digit selection pawl 24 was engaged with the latch plate 5 by a' 7 impulse, so thatthe gear 3 is stationary'at 135 ofthe cycle. As the moved in the samedirection, since. it is engaged by the pawl 42. The pawl 24' is carried by the sector 19, so that the latch plate 5 and the gear 3 are also rotated in the opposite direction to that in which they rotated at the The zone selecting cpawl ingthenotches 38' by theoperating latch 30. If the magnet-73- now'receives an X impulse, the operating pawl will release" the zone selection pawl. The rate of movement of the zoning bail 22 -is'such that the pawl 45will enter the second notch 38. The pawl will encounter thetr-ailing-edge of the notch 39 in theplate 37,

24 is free to drop oifthe cam plate 4 on to the latch plate,

5,. and so into one of the notches 29, as the plate 5 rotates. V

The latch plate 5 is now held stationary by the pawl 24, but the gear 3 continues to rotate with the shaft .1. T he extension 18 of the pawl 13 engages the stud 12 in the plate 5, and the continued rotation of the gear 3' forces the pawl to turn anti-clockwise until the nose 16 is withdrawn from the slot 17 in the shaft. 1. The gear 3; is now decoupled from the shaft 1 and comes to rest. The positioning of the notches 29 issuch that the gear 3 is brought to rest approximately 12 after an impulse has been applied to the magnet 73 (Figure 5). Thus the gear 3 is driven fora number of degrees of the cycle which is dependent upon the. digit punching sensed; the

preventing further movement of the plate. The zoning; sector continues tomove, but the displacement ofthenotchAI-relative tothe corresponding notch in the plate37'forces the pawl'42 out of engagement, so that thezoning sector 19is' brought to rest with the notches 38 and 39 in alignment. Thebail 22 continues to move,

I the pawl 42 riding. on the periphery of the sector 19. The angularmdistance between adjacent notches 38 isone quarter of that between adjacent notches. 29 on the latch plate 5. Movement of the latch plate 5 equal to v the separation of adjacent notches 29 causes a moveless the value represented by the punching, thelonger'is the time. for which the gear is driven. There will now be. describedthe apparatus for settingrthe gear 3 by'the zoning bail 22. The zonelatch pawl is normally held in engagement with'a notch 41 in the zoning sector 19 by asprin 44.

me'ntof; the typewheel 96 (Figures 1A and 13) such that four characters pass the printing line. The .full movement of the bail22 produces. a movement of the sector 19 equal to the separation between adjacent not'ches' 29I The'energisation of the magnet 73 by a 0," fX or. .Y impulse causes the'pawl 45 to engage with respec tivelythefirsnsecond and third notch 38 of the zoning. sectors If no z'one impulse occurs, the zoning sector moves the full distance. Hence the type wheel 96 is moved respe'ctively l, 2, 3 or4character positions from that in" which it was set in response to a: digit impulse, when a 0,X or Y impulse; or no zoneimpulse V occhrsJ Thus the latch 30- acts as-a common control The zoning bail 22 is mounted so that it may move concentrically with the shaft 1. A cam followerlever' 74'is' pivotally attached to an arm (not shown), which is attached to a boss mounted on the shaft 1. The boss carries a second arm which is attached to the zoning bail 22 The outer end of the lever 74 carries aroller75 which is held against a cam 76 by a spring.(not shown)- The cam 76 is secured to'a shaft 77. The shaft 77 is driven in synchronism with the shaft71throughatrain ofgears (not shown).

The shape of the cam 76 is suchthat the zoning bail- 22'is moved anti-clockwise at constant speed from 135 to 195 ofthe cycle, and is moved back to the normal position-"between 199 and 31-5" ofthe cycle (Figure 5). An auxiliary zoningplate 37 is attached to'the zoning sector 19 by two studs 33 and34. The studs'pass through slots" 35 andg36i in the:- sector 19 st n thatthe plate 37 member for both digit and'zone movement of the gears and -hence of the; type' wheel, 96, byreleasing the pawls 24- and 45 atthe' -appropriate V times.

thezoning' se'ctor' 19' carries theipawl 24 away from under the operating latcH 30. Hence the pawl 24 engages in the notch 29 which is next in the anti-clockwise dire'etion to that-which is engaged when a 1 impulse occurs. A zone impulse may' then cause the appropriate zoning move'iient'to take place.

, Taking the table showing thecard coding, in c'onjunc tion with'the fact 'thatfthetype wheel movement is reversed dhring thezone time, it will be understood that the characters on the type ,wheel 96 are arranged in the omen-9', Y,-Z, 8, V," W, X, 7, S, T, U, 6 1, A,.B, C, blanlgll, l0, 0, as illustrated in Figure 1B. At OIof the' cycle', the'character Y willbe'opposite theprinting line, since the gear 3 is decoupled from the shaft 1 approximately1-2 "after adigit impulse o'ccurs. In the case of the example, the gear 3 will drive the type wheel 96 to position the' chara'cter "6 at the printing line in 1 response to'the digitimpulse, and the type wheel will 9 then move' two eharaetee positions the "reverse. diree 45 is preventedfromenter-' It -no digit impulse occurs, the digit selection pawl 24 is released just after because the movement of tion to finally position the character T at the printing line.

At approximately 199 of the cycle the projection 100 (Figure 1A) enters the slot 101 and the type wheel 96 is rocked to effect printing of the selected character as above described, in the manner similar to that described in the above mentioned patent.

Immediately after printing, the digit selection pawl 24 is disengaged from the latch plate 5 by an arm 59, which is operated by a cam 58 on the shaft 77. At the same time, the cam 76 starts to return the zoning sector 19 to the normal position, the movement being completed by 315 of the cycle.

At 205, the shaft 1 commences the second revolution of the cycle. Since thegear 3 has been driven after the shaft ceased moving, the nose 16 of the pawl 13 will not be aligned with the slot 17 in the shaft 1. Consequently, the shaft 1 will rotate without driving the gear 3 until the pawl 13 drops into the slot in the shaft. The gear 3 is thus re-synchronised with the shaft, so that, at 310 of the cycle, the gear 3 will have driven the type wheel 96 to bring the character Y opposite the printing line, and the wheel is reset ready for the next cycle.

A plurality of character selecting mechanisms similar to that already described may be mounted on the shaft 1, to form a multi-column printing mechanism, each character selecting mechanism driving a separate type wheel. The type Wheels may be fitted with hammer-lock controls similar to those described in the above mentioned patent.

In a multi-column mechanism it is desirable to have means for suppressing printing of zeros to the left of the first significant digit. This is effected under control of contacts 60 (Figures 1 and 4). When the operating latch 30 is moved anti-clockwise by the magnet 73, the contacts 60 are allowed to open, and are held open when the latch returns.

The sensing brushes illustrated diagrammatically at 111 in Figure 4 for four adjacent columns, for example, are connected by plug wires (not shown) to four sockets 62. These brushes co-operate with a sensing roll 112 in known manner. The sockets 62 are connected to the operating coils of the magnets 73a, 73b, 73c, and 73d for four columns of the printing mechanism, the other side of each coil being connected to a supply line 63. The magnet 73a controls the column printing the least significant digit. The contacts 60b, 60c, 60d and cam controlled contacts 67 are connected in series, and to the supply line 63. The contacts 67 are operated by a cam (not shown) mounted on the shaft 77, so that they are closed from 135 to 140 of the cycle.

It will be assumed that the magnet 730, has received a digit impulse, say a "7 impulse,'so that the contacts 600 are open. At 135', the other three magnets receive 0 impulses from the card. The operating coil of the magnet 73d is energised, but there is also a circuit through a diode 64, a diiferential coil of the magnet 73d, and the contacts 67 to the line 63. With both coils 0perated, the armature is not attracted. This allows the corresponding wheel to be driven for the full zoning movement, which leaves the blank position at the printing line. The circuits to the differential coils of the magnets 73a and 73b are broken by the open contacts 600, which allows the 0 impulses to be effective to position the corresponding wheels. The contacts 60 are reset before the end of the cycle by a bail 61.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for setting a type wheel to a desired character position under joint control of a digit impulse, which may appear at any of a number of set timesdurin a predetermined digit period, and a zone impulse, which may appear at any other number of set times during a determined zone period which is distinct from said digit period, said apparatus comprising a gear operatively coupled to said type wheel, means for rotating said gear in one'direction during said digit period and in a second direction during said zone period, a single impulseactuated operating means actuated by said digit and zone impulses, means controlled by said operating means when actuated for stopping rotation of said gear in said one direction during rotation of said gear in that direction, and means also controlled by said operating means when actuated for stopping rotation of said gear in said other direction during rotation in that other direction.

2. Apparatus for setting a type wheel to a desired character position under joint control of a digit impulse, which may appear at any of a number of set times during a determined digit period, and'a zone impulse, which may appear at any of a number of set times during a determined zone period which is distinct from said digit period,

said apparatus comprising a gear operatively coupled to.

said type wheel, first means for rotating said gear in one direction during said digit period, second means for rotating said gear in the opposite direction during said zone period, and a single operating member controlled by said digit and zone impulses for rendering inefiective said first and second means for rotating said gear respectively.

3. Printing apparatus controlled jointly by a digit impulse which may appear at any of a number of set times during a determined digit period and a zone impulse, which may appear at any of a number of set times during a determined zone period which is distinct from said digit period, said printing apparatus comprising a printing member having type characters thereon, a printing platen, a gear, means for driving said printing member by said gear. relative to said platen, first drive means for rotating said gear in one direction from the start of said digit period, second drive means for driving means for rotating said gear in the opposite direction from the start of said zone period, a single impulse-actuated period member actuated by said digit and zone impulses, and means operated by said member when actuated for rendering ineffective said first driving means and said second driving means when effective whereby said gear is driven in said one direction for a time determined by the arrival of a digit impulse and in said opposite direction for a time determined by the arrival of said zone impulse.

4. Record card controlled printing apparatus comprising a record card sens-ing station for producing a digit impulse .at a time during the sensing of the digit positions of a card determined by the position of digit data on said card, and a zone impulse at a time during the sensing of the zone positions of a card determined by the position of zone data on said card, a printing member having type characters thereon arranged in groups of consecutive characters, a platen, a gear, means for driving said member by said gear relative to said platen, a single operating member, means for actuating said member by digit and zone impulses, first means for rotating said gear in one direction, means for rendering said first means effective during sensing of digit positions of said card, means operated by said operating member for rendering said first means ineffective and thereby stopping said printing member to select one of said groups, second means for rotating said gear in the opposite direction, means for rendering said second means effective during sensing of said zone positions of said card and means operated by said operating member for rendering said second means ineffective when rotating said gear, and thereby selecting a desired character from said selected group.

5. Printing apparatus comprising a printing member having a plurality of type characters thereon arranged in groups, a gear coupled to said printing member, means for generating a digit impulse and a zone impulse for selecting one of said type characters, said digit impulse appearing at any one of a plurality of set times during a determined digit period and said zone impulse appearing at any one of a plurality of set times during a zone period increase by digit and zone impulses, a driving shaft, first coupling means for coupling said shaft'to said gearymeans for rotating said shaft during said digit period and thereby'rotating said gear and driving said printing member in onedirection,v a digit selection member operated by said operating member and effective while saidshaft rotates said gear for decoupling said first coupling means and thereby stopping said printing member and selecting one of said groups, a zoning member, second coupling means coupling said gear to said zoning member, means for moving said zoning member during-said zone'period andthereby rotating said gear'and driving said printing member in theopposite direction, and a zoning selection member operated by said operating member when actuated andefiective, while said zoning member rotates the said gear for decoupling said second coupling means and thereby stopping said printing member andselecting a type character from the selected group;

6. Printing apparatus comprising. a printing member having a plurality of type characters thereon arranged in groups, a gear coupled to said printingmemben-means for operating a digit impulse and a zone impulse for selecting one of said typecharacters, said digit impulse appearing at any one of a plurality ofset times during a determined digit period and said zone impulses appearing at any one of a plurality of set times during a zoneperiod according to the type character tohe s'elected,-an operating member, means for actuating said operating member by digit and zone impulses, a driving shaft,-first coupling means for coupling said shaft to said gear, means for rotating said shaft through one: revolution during said digit period and thereby rotating said gear and driving said printing member in one direction, a digit'selection member operated by said operating member and effective while said shaft rotates said gear for decoupling said first coupling means and thereby stopping said printing member-and selecting one of said groups, a zoning member, second coupling means coupling said gear to said zoning member, means for moving said zoning member during said zoning period and thereby rotating said gear and driving said printing member in the opposite direction, a zoning selection member operated by said operating member when actuated and effective while said zoning member rotates said gear for decoupling said second coupling means and thereby stopping said printing member and-selecting a type character from the selected group, means for printing from said selected character, and means for rotating said-shaftthrough a further revolution and thereby coupling said coupling means and driving said gear and said type member toa rest position. I

7; Apparatus for settinga type wheel to a character position under joint control ar a digit impulsexgenerated at any; of a number'of set times during a'determined digit period and a zone impulse generated at any'of anumber memberrotates's'aid gear for decoupling said-secondcou pling means, whereby said type wheel is brought to a position determined jointly by the times at which said digit and-zone pulses appear.

8: Apparatus for setting a typewheel"v to a character'- position-under jointcontrolof a digit impulse generatedat any of a number of set times-duringadetermined digit periodrand a zo'ne impulse generated at=any, of a number of-set times during a determined zone period distinct from said digit period, said apparatus comprising a driving shaft; a gear coupled to said type wheel, a zoning sector, a releasable digit selection pawl mounted on said sector, first coupling means coupling said gearto said shaft,- means for rotating said shaft during saiddigitperiod to drive said gear and said type' wheel in one direction through. said first coupling, means means operated by' said digitoselection pawl when released while said shaft rotates said gear for decoupling said first coupling means, an operating member forreleasingsaid digit selection pawl when actuated, means foractuating: said operating member by said digit and zone pulses, a zoning member,

release of the'digit selection pawl locking the gear to the leased to decouple said first coupling means and rotatingsaid gear and said type'wheel in theopposite direction,

and a'zoning selection member controlled by saidoperating member when actuated for'decoupling said second coupling means while said zoning member drives said gear, whereby said type wheelais brought to a position determinedjointlyby the times at which'said digitland zone pulses appear; I a

9. Apparatus for setting'a typewheellto a character position under joint control/of a' digitimpulse generated at any of a numberlof'set times during a determined digit period and a zone impulse generated at any of a number of set times during a determined zone period,

distinct from" said. digit period,fsaid apparatus compris ing. a driving shaft, a gear coupled tosaid type wheel,

first coupling means coupling said gear to said shaft,

' a latch plate mounted concentrically with said shaft and released, said operating member-holding saidxdigit selecofset times during, a determined zoneperiod distinct from said digit period, said apparatus comprising a driving shaft, a gear coupled to said-type wheel, first coupling means coupling said gear to said shaft, means for rotating saidshaft during said digit period to drive said gear and said type wheel in one direction through said first conpling means,-an operating member, means for actuating said operating'member by said digit and zone" impulses, adig'it selectionmember o'pe'ratcdby said operatingmemher and effective while said shaft-rotates said gear for decoupling said first'coupling means, a zoning member; second coupling means for coupling said gear to said zoning member, means for moving said zoning member during said zone period to rotate said gear and said type wheelin-the opposite direction through said second couplingfmeans, means: operated by said zoning member on movement' thereof to decouple said first. couplingmeans ands zoning selection member controlled by said operat ing member when' actuated and effeotive while t said zoning:

having a plurality of slots therein, means constraining;

said latch plate and said gear to revolve together when said gear is drivenin one direction andwhen said latch plate is driven in'- the opposite" direction,- an operating: member,.means for actuating saidoperating member bysaiddigit and zone impulses, a normally stationary zoning sector, a digit selection pawl carriedbysaid zoning sec tor and engage'able in-any of'said latch' plate slots when:

tion= pawl out of engagement with said latch plate slots but releasing said digit selection pawl when actuated, means for, rotating said, shaft during' said digit periodtodrive said gear in said onedirection, first decoupling" means. operated "on engagement of said digit selection pawl with-a latch plate slot during rotation of said :gear in saidone direction for decouplingksaid gearfrom said shaft,z'a z'oningomember, second coupling means for cou-- pling said zoning member to said zoning sector, means for moving said'zoning member during said zone period and" thereby disengagingsaid digit selection pawl from said operatingamember, notpreviously so disengaged,

' and decoupling-said gear from said'shaft, said gear being;

then driven by saidzoningusection in said opposite direction through said digit selection pawl and said latch plate, and'a zoning selection member controlled by said op erating member andefiective while said zoning member drives said gear for decoupling said second coupling means. a 1 r 10; Apparatus: for setting a type wheel to a character position under joint control of a digit impulse generated at any of a number of set'times during a determined digit period: and a zone impulse generated attan'y: of a: j

number of set times during a determined zone period distinct from said digit period, said apparatus comprising a driving shaft having a slot therein, a gear mounted concentrically with said shaft and coupled to said type wheel, a driving pawl carried by said gear and normally engaged in said slot to couple said gear to said shaft, a latch plate mounted concentrically with said shaft and having a plurality of slots therein, means constraining said latch plate and said gear to revolve together when said gear is driven in one direction and when said latch plate is driven in the opposite direction, an operating member, means for actuating said operating member by said digit and zone impulses, a normally stationary zon ing sector, a digit selection pawl carried by said zoning sector and engageable in any of said latch plate slots when released, said operating member holding said digit selection pawl out of engagement with said latch plate slots but releasing said digit selection pawl when actuated, means for rotating said shaft during said digit period to drive said gear in said one direction, first decoupling means carried by said latch plate and operated on engagement of said digit selection pawl with a latch plate slot during rotation of said gear in said one direction for decoupling said driving pawl from said shaft, a zoning member, second coupling means for coupling said zoning member to said zoning sector, means for moving said zoning member during said zone period and thereby disengaging said digit selection pawl from said operating member, if not previously so disengaged, and decoupling said gear from said shaft, said gear being then driven by said zoning sector in said opposite direction through said digit selection pawl and said latch plate, and a zoning selection member controlled by said operating member and effective while said zoning member drives said gear for decoupling said second coupling means.

11. Apparatus for setting a type wheel to a character position under joint control of a digit impulse generated at any of a number of set times during a determined digit period and a zone impulse generated at any of a number of set times during a determined zone period distinct from said digit period, said apparatus comprising a driving shaft having a slot therein, a gear mounted concentrically with said shaft and coupled to said type wheel, a driving pawl carried by said gear and biased into engagement with said slot to couple said gear to said shaft, a latch plate mounted concentrically with said shaft and having a plurality of slots therein, means constraining said latch plate and said gear to revolve together when said gear is driven in one direction and when said latch plate is driven in the opposite direction, an operating member, means for actuating said operating member by said digit and zone impulses, a normally stationary zoning sector, a digit selection pawl carried by said zoning sector and engageable in any of said latch plate slots when released, said operating member holding said digit selection pawl out of engagement with said latch plate slots but releasing said digit selection pawl when actuated, means for rotating said shaft through one revolution during said digit period to drive said gear in said one direction, first decoupling means carried by said latch plate and operated on engagement of said digit selection pawl with a latch plate slot during rotation of said gear in said one direction for decoupling said driving pawl from said shaft, a zoning member, second coupling means for coupling said zoning member to said zoning sector, means for moving said zoning member during said zone period and thereby disengaging said digit selection pawl from said operating member if not previously so disengaged, and decoupling said gear from said shaft, said gear being then driven by said zoning sector in said opposite direction through said digit selection pawl and said latch plate, a zoning selection member controlled by said operating member and effective while said zoning member drives said gear for decoupling said second coupling means, means for printing from said type wheel, and means for rotating said shaft through a further revolution and thereby coupling said gear to said shaft and driving said gear and said type wheel to a rest position.

12. Apparatus for setting a type wheel to a character position under joint control of a digit impulse generated at any of a number of set times during a determined digit period and a zone impulse generated at any of a number of set times during a determined zone period distinct from said digit period, said apparatus comprising a driving shaft having a slot therein, a gear mounted concentrically with said shaft and coupled to said type wheel, a driving pawl carried by said gear and biased into engagement with said slot to couple said gear to said shaft, a latch plate mounted concentrically with said shaft and having a plurality of slots therein, means constraining said latch plate and said gear to revolve together when said gear is driven in one direction and when said latch plate is driven in the opposite direction, an operating member, means for actuating said operating member by said digit and zone impulses, a normally stationary zoning sector, a digit selection pawl carried by said zoning sector and engageable in any of said latch plate slots when released, said operating member holding said digit selection pawl out of engagement with said latch plate slots but releasing said digit selection pawl when actuated, means for rotating said shaft through one revolution during said digit period to drive said gear in said one direction, first decoupling means carried by said latch plate and operated on engagement of said digit selection pawl with a latch plate slot during rotation of said pawl in said one direction for decoupling said driving pawl from said shaft, an auxiliary zoning plate attached to said zoning sector so as to allow limited movement therebetween, said zoning sector and auxiliary zoning plate each having a plurality of notches therein, a zoning member, a pawl carried by said zoning member and engageable with one of said notches, means for moving said zoning member during said zone period and thereby disengaging said digit selection pawl from saidv operating member, if not previously so disengaged, and decoupling said gear from said shaft, said gear being then driven by said zoning sector in said opposite direction through said digit selection pawl and said latch plate, a zone selection pawl controlled by said operating member when actuated to engage with one of said notches and thereby to disengage said pawl carried by said zoning member from said zoning sector, means for printing from said print wheel, and means for rotating said shaft through a further revolution and thereby coupling said driving pawl with said shaft and driving said gear and said type wheel to rest position.

13. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 12, comprising also means for returning said zoning sector to an initial position after printing has been effected, and means for holding said digit selection pawl out of engagement with the latch plate during the return of the zoning sector.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which said actuating means include an electromagnet for operating said operating member.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, comprising also electrical contacts controlled by the operating mem her to indicate when the operating member has been moved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,567 White Mar. 24, 1903 1,542,223 Dolph June 16, 1925 1,909,550 Pierce May 16, 1933 1,965,980 Lake July 10, 1934 2,046,464 Knutsen July 7, 1936 2,046,465 Knutsen July 7, 1936 (Other references on following page) 

